Greetings Families!
I hope this finds you well and enjoying the start of summer 2024!
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, my favorite medieval story, the poet observes, “A year runs fast, and always runs different.” I think of that line at the end of every school year, and like every other year, this one seemed to go so fast!” It takes a slow replay to capture the moments that made this year "run different.”
We began on a high note of celebration, kicking off our first year as an independent school department, and, after all that summer rain, we got off to a sunny and happy start.
In late October, we were thrown into a dark time when the tragic events in Lewiston prompted a frightening two-day shelter in place. It was a time when our school staff and the Richmond community came together to protect and support our kids and one another as the loss and fear touched so many families. I have two lasting impressions of that time. One is the difference between the expressions on the faces of the school staff when kids were watching them and when they weren’t watching. They made sure that what the students saw was confidence and assurance, the opposite of what the staff likely felt in their hearts. I remember too the love, hope, and strength that lifted our school community out of that darkness.
Our reserves were called upon again in December when a terrific wind and rain storm caused long-lasting power outages, road closures, and damage to property, all just before the holiday break. I marveled at the school staff who showed up every single day for our students, during the storm and in its aftermath, though they weren’t sure they would be able to get back home, or what they would find when they did. I remember hearing our drivers over the radio guiding one another through the treacherous roads to get our students safely home on the day of the storm and to and from school in the days following.
It was a time when being an independent school department really mattered. Aside from a one-hour early release on the day of the storm, we did not lose any days of school, while many schools around us were closing. In fact, we only used one full snow day all year! This is partly due to the mild winter, but it’s also due to Superintendent Websters’ ability to make the calls based on local conditions.
The second half of the year played out fairly typically, with lots of teaching and learning, special events, field trips, and graduations, plus a not-so-typical total eclipse of the sun! A few days ago, the citizens of Richmond passed the school budget (Thank you!), and we ended the year, as we started it, on a high note of celebration.
If there is such a thing as a low note of celebration, it's having to wish farewell to retiree Deb Bodge, who has been a secretary at Marcia Buker for 39 years! It’s hard for us to imagine our school without Secretary Bobcat Bodge's warmth, skill, and vast institutional knowledge; nonetheless, she has earned a very happy retirement and a forever place in our hearts.
We will also be saying goodbye and thank you to Superintendent Webster, who led us expertly through the separation from RSU 2 and the first year of our independence. I have enjoyed working with Bob, and I will miss his humor, his stories, and his wisdom.
And now we welcome our new Superintendent Chad Kempton, who I’m sure will lead us into a bright future. We look forward to working with Chad!
Over the summer, our maintenance and custodial staff will be cleaning, making repairs, and preparing our schools for the 2024-25 school year, and many teachers will be meeting to plan curriculum and instruction.With Mrs. Bodge leaving the office in a couple of weeks, and the work being done in our school, there may not always be someone in the office to take calls. If you need to get in touch with us at the school, and you don’t reach us in the main office, please feel free to email me at mpaine@richmondpk12.org, and I will get back to you. You can also call my cell at 207-557-0062 or the Central Office at 207-737-2126.
Finally, the entire Marcia Buker Team wishes to thank the PTG, parents, guardians, and community members who supported our students this year with donations of food, clothing, and supplies; funding and volunteerism; words of encouragement; and your involvement in our school activities. You make it possible to live up to our promise of Building Excellence.
I wish you all a sunny summer, and one that runs slow.
In partnership with you,
~ Mary
Dates and Notices
September 2024 Back to School Start Dates
9/3 -- All K-6 and grade 9 students
9/4 -- All K-12 Students
9/9 -- PreK Students (AM and PM)
The 2024-25 Student and Family Handbook will be sent out later in the summer.